Single Seam Combination Bed Sheet and Bed Skirt

ABSTRACT

A combination fitted bed sheet and bed skirt, whereby a common seam is formed for both the sides of the bed sheet and the bed skirt. That is, the bed sheet has a top side sized for the top of a mattress, four sides sized for respective sides of a mattress, and four sides with elastic which fit under the bottom of the mattress. A seam situated between the top side and the four lateral sides further is the connection point for a bed skirt which is attached on at least two or at least three of the sides. The bed skirt is made of elongated, generally flat material which extends downward or outward from the connection point or seam. This connection point is actually, in embodiments, a line where the top side and lateral sides of the bed sheet, as well as the bed skirt, all meet.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

The disclosed technology relates generally to bedding, and more specifically, to a combination bed sheet with bed skirt.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

Bed sheets are generally fabric material used to cover a bed. Fitted bed sheets usually have elastic which help a bed sheet fit more snugly on a bed and move less than unfitted bed sheets which are simply tucked under a mattress. The sheet protects the mattress by covering same; it makes beds more hygienic, since people sleeping there-on are only in contact with a removable and washable covering.

Bed skirts are also devices which are used with beds. Bed skirts extend downwards from over the top-most extremity of a mattress or support structure on which the mattress rests, on at least one side of a bed. The skirt makes the bed more attractive by hiding the sides and extending a pattern or colored décor around the bed.

Combinations of bed skirts and bed coverings of sorts are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,053 to Mangano shows an example of a bed covering with a bed skirt. U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,750 to Shiu shows a separable expansion bed covering and skirt. U.S. Pat. No. 2,641,001 shows a slip cover for a couch which falls over the top of the couch.

While, as shown above, similar technology exists, there is a need for simpler products which are easier to manufacture, less expensive to procure, and carry out the functions of bed sheets, bed covers, and bed skirts.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

A bed sheet has a single seam (defined as a line along which two pieces of fabric are sewn together) between a top side of a bed sheet, a lateral side of the bed sheet, and a bed skirt. As such, the bed skirt extends from the edge of the top side of the sheet, as well as the edge of the lateral side of the bed sheet. The bed skirt can extend as such along one side, two adjacent sides, two opposite sides, or three adjacent sides. The bed skirt is continuous (defined as “without a space larger than 10 cm between and two pieces of the material”) along each of the sides in which it is present, in embodiments of the disclosed technology. Likewise, the seam, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, is continuous along adjacent sides of the bed skirt (such as continuously wrapping around three lateral sides of the bed sheet/top of the bed skirt).

When the bed skirt is on either opposite lateral side of the bed, mattress, and bed sheet, there are two seams, each connecting a respective side bed skirt to the bed sheet. The seam, in embodiments, is made up of (comprises or consists of) stitching extending through all of the material forming the bed skirt, material forming said top side of said bed sheet, and material forming the lateral side of said bed sheet.

Another way of describing embodiments of the disclosed technology is that on top of a mattress support structure is a mattress which is, in turn, covered by a bed sheet extending over a top side of the mattress and fitted around each lateral side and at least a portion of a bottom of the mattress. A bed skirt extends along at least two lateral sides of the bed sheet (two contiguous or opposite sides), and further extends from a point (seam) where the bed sheet turns from the top side of the mattress to each lateral side. The bed skirt extends from the bed sheet past at least a portion of the mattress support structure (as gravity pulls the bed skirt downwards from the top of the mattress past the mattress support structure).

The seam can be formed at the point or points (along a line) where the bed sheet and bed skirt meet. This can further be an attachment point or line between the top side of the bed sheet and at least two lateral sides of the bed sheet.

A combination bed sheet and bed skirt have a top side of the bed sheet adapted for placement on a top side of a mattress, in embodiments of the disclosed technology. A lateral side of the bed sheet can be adapted for abutment on a lateral side of the mattress. A seam extends between the top side of the bed sheet and the lateral side of the bed sheet, in embodiments thereof. A bed skirt is attached along a length of the seam and abuts the lateral side of the bed sheet in this embodiment. The seam and the bed skirt can extend across two oppositely disposed sides of the bed sheet. Or, the seam and the bed skirt can extend continuously along three adjacent sides of the bed sheet. The bed skirt can extend from the seam to below the mattress (where “below” means in the direction of the ground on which the mattress is supported indirectly) and the lateral side of the bed sheet. The bed sheet can have elastic on the bottom side thereof. The seam can also have elastic.

“Substantially” and “substantially shown,” for purposes of this specification, are defined as “at least 90%,” or as otherwise indicated. “Identical” or “exactly,” for purposes of this specification, is defined as “within an acceptable tolerance level known in the art.” Any device may “comprise,” or “consist of,” the devices mentioned there-in, as limited by the claims. Any element described may be one of “exactly” or “substantially,” as described.

It should be understood that the use of “and/or” is defined inclusively, such that the term “a and/or b” should be read to include the sets: “a and b,” “a or b,” “a,” or “b.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of the single seam bed sheet and bed skirt of embodiments of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view thereof.

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 5 shows a top side elevation view thereof.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom side elevation view thereof.

FIG. 7 shows a left side elevation view thereof.

FIG. 8 shows a top plan view of an alternative embodiment, with left and right side skirts only.

FIG. 9 shows a vertical cutaway of a bed sheet and bed skirt along section line A-A of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNOLOGY

The disclosed technology described herein is a combination fitted bed sheet and bed skirt, whereby a common seam is formed for both the sides of the bed sheet and the bed skirt. That is, the bed sheet has a top side sized for the top of a mattress, four sides sized for respective sides of a mattress, and four sides with elastic which fit under the bottom of the mattress. A seam situated between the top side and the four lateral sides further is the connection point for a bed skirt which is attached on at least two. or at least three. of the sides. The bed skirt is elongated, generally flat material which extends downward or outward from the connection point or seam. This connection point is actually a line where the top side and lateral sides of the bed sheet, as well as the bed skirt, all meet. This connection line extends around the corners of the mattress between, at, and/or on both of the lateral sides and top side of the sheet/skirt described herein. It should be understood that any number of sides/shape of a bed and corresponding bed sheet are within the scope of the disclosed technology.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology will become clearer in view of the forthcoming description of the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of the single seam bed sheet and bed skirt, of embodiments of the disclosed technology. FIG. 2 shows a bottom perspective view thereof. A bed sheet is shown with a top side 30 adapted for placement on the top of a mattress. The sheet has lateral sides 20, 22, 24, and 26. The top side of the sheet is fitted for the top side of a mattress and is generally procured from a flexible fabric material or other flexible material. “Fitted,” for purposes of this disclosure, is defined as “made or shaped to fit a particular sized mattress exactly.” The size of the mattresses are known in the art, such as single, twin, queen, and king sized mattresses. Thus, the top side 30 is made to cover or fit the top side of a particular mattress. Meanwhile, a seam 1 extends between the top side 30 of the sheet and each of the lateral sides of the sheet 20, 22, 24, and/or 26. This seam 1, in embodiments, is a single seam from which the bed skirt and the bed sheet extend. It passes through the bed sheet and bed skirt to connect the two elements.

Discussing FIG. 2 in particular, one can see the seam 1 extending around the sheet sides 24, 22, and 20, respectively and continuously. The top side of the sheet 30 is shown (from the bottom) along with the bottom side 50 of the sheet which extends below a mattress. The weight of a mattress on the bottom 50 of the sheet holds it in place. A mattress 40 is shown in part. The bed skirt 14, 12, and 10 is shown extending horizontally from the bed sheet for clarity, though on a bed, the bed skirt would hang down, as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 3 shows a top plan view thereof. FIG. 4 shows a bottom plan view thereof. The bed sheet has a top portion 30 with a continuous skirt portion corresponding to three sides of the bed—a right side 10, a bottom side 12, and a left side 14. The side or sides of the bed with a headboard, or which are placed against a wall, in embodiments have a bed sheet covering them but lack a bed skirt.

FIG. 5 shows a top side elevation view thereof. FIG. 6 shows a bottom side elevation view thereof. FIG. 7 shows a left side elevation view thereof. Here the mattress is covered with a bed sheet having a side 20 and top 30, as well as a bed skirt 10, 12, and 14 continuing around the sheet.

FIG. 8 shows a top plan view of an alternative embodiment, with left and right side skirts only. In this view, the bed skirt has a right side 140 and left side 110. The skirt again extends from a seam which separates the top side 130 of the sheet from the side of the sheet (comparable to side 20 shown in prior figures).

FIG. 9 shows a vertical cutaway of a bed sheet and bed skirt along section line A-A of FIG. 8. The elements shown here are the same as in FIGS. 1-7 as well, so the numbering of these figures is being used. The top of the bed sheet 30 (and bed) are shown with a side of the sheet 20 (and mattress) extending downward and a right angle to the top of the bed, covering a mattress 39. The bed skirt 10 extends from the top 30 of the bed sheet from a seam 1 which divides the side 20 of the sheet from the top of the sheet 30. In this manner, the bed skirt extends from the same seam 1 as that which forms the furthest extent of both the top 30 and side 20 of the bed sheet. The bed skirt 10 is also shown extending past the lowest extent of the bed sheet 20, covering a support structure 90. The support structure is situated between a floor and a mattress 39 and supports the mattress 39. The mattress rests on the support structure 90, such as on a box spring or platform). The bed skirt 10 covers at least a portion of the side of the support structure 90 and falls, in embodiments of the disclosed technology, further than the length of the side 20 of the bed sheet.

While the disclosed technology has been taught with specific reference to the above embodiments, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosed technology. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. Combinations of any of the methods, systems, and devices described herein-above are also contemplated and within the scope of the disclosed technology. 

I claim:
 1. A bed sheet comprising: a single seam at which is attached each of: a top side of said bed sheet; a lateral side of said bed sheet; a bed skirt.
 2. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said bed skirt is a continuous skirt extending around at least three sides of said bed sheet, and said single seam is substantially continuous around said at least three sides.
 3. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said bed skirt is a continuous skirt extending around at least three sides of said bed sheet, and said single seam is continuous around said at least three sides.
 4. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said bed skirt comprises two identical parts, the two extending from opposite sides of said top side of said bed sheet, such that a first said single seam and a second said single seam are attached between respective said parts of said bed skirt and said top side of said bed sheet.
 5. The bed sheet of claim 1, wherein said seam is formed by stitching which extends through all of the material forming said bed skirt, material forming said top side of said bed sheet, and material forming said lateral side of said bed sheet.
 6. A bed sheet kit, comprising: a mattress support structure; a mattress; a bed sheet extending over a top side of said mattress and fitted around each lateral side and at least a portion of a bottom of said mattress; a bed skirt extending along at least two lateral sides of said bed sheet and further extending from a point where said bed sheet turns from said top side of said mattress to each lateral side; wherein said bed skirt extends from said bed sheet past at least a portion of said mattress support structure.
 7. The bed sheet kit of claim 6, wherein a seam is formed at said point or points where said bed sheet and said bed skirt meet.
 8. The bed sheet kit of claim 7, wherein said seam further is an attachment point or points of said top side and said at least two lateral sides of said bed sheet.
 9. A combination bed sheet and bed skirt, comprising: a top side of said bed sheet adapted for placement on a top side of a mattress; a lateral side of said bed sheet adapted for abutment on a lateral side of said mattress; a seam extending between said top side of said bed sheet and said lateral side of said bed sheet; a bed skirt attached along a length of said seam and abutting said lateral side of said bed sheet.
 10. The combination bed sheet and bed skirt of claim 9, wherein said seam and said bed skirt extend across two oppositely disposed sides of said bed sheet.
 11. The combination bed sheet and bed skirt of claim 10, wherein said seam and said bed skirt extend continuously along three adjacent sides of said bed sheet.
 12. The combination bed sheet and bed skirt of claim 9, wherein said bed skirt extends from said seam to below said mattress and said lateral side of said bed sheet.
 13. The combination bed sheet and bed skirt of claim 12, wherein said bed sheet has elastic on a bottom side of said mattress.
 14. The combination bed sheet and bed skirt of claim 9, wherein said seam comprises elastic. 